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Polian: Hayden To Determine Deals For Saturday And Rhodes

(INDIANAPOLIS, IN) - Indianapolis Colts President Bill Polian says he is willing to use the team’s franchise tag on Kelvin Hayden rather than lose the starting cornerback to free agency.

Polian says that negotiations with Hayden's agent have not gone well and that he would rather franchise Hayden rather than lose him due to unreasonable demands from a player's agent.

Hayden, Pro Bowl center Jeff Saturday and running back Dominic Rhodes are the Colts' main unrestricted free agents and Polian says that Hayden's deal will be the key - that his deal will determine what kind of deals they can offer Saturday and Rhodes.

NFL teams have until February 19th to tag franchise players.

During Polian's eleven seasons in charge of the Colts, the team has tried to re-sign its own free agents while remaining spectators when the free agent signing period begins, which this year is February 27th.

One other decision that will effect the Colts' roster and salary cap status is the future of wide receiver Marvin Harrison. The 13-year veteran still has two years remaining on his deal, but Polian says the club has made no determination about Harrison's status for 2009.

Harrison's numbers have been down the last two seasons, but he did move to second on the NFL's all-time career receptions list in last year's regular season finale against Tennessee.

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